The Essentials: Dysphagia and End-of-Life Patients

Video Runtime: 34 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 12 Minutes

Dysphagia is a symptom, not a disease unto itself. Difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of a wide variety of medical diagnoses. The underlying diagnosis is a critical factor to consider when developing a treatment approach. Dysphagia clinicians must guard against a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead develop an understanding of the causative factors and pathophysiology of swallowing disorders in each disease process.

This course will discuss dysphagia in the setting of end-of-life care. The characteristics of dysphagia in patients at end of life will be reviewed, and specific considerations for assessment of the unique needs of actively dying patients will be discussed. The role of tube feeding at end of life will be examined. The evidence base for treatment strategies specific to end-of-life care will be provided, including oral care and comfort, strategies for nutritional support, and alternatives to non-oral feeding. Participants will be provided with an opportunity for problem-solving through case review.

This course is appropriate for dysphagia clinicians working in medical settings, including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care.